Playa Blanca Forecast: Dry and Clear

A weekend on the beach at Playa Blanca can make you forget about the big, bustling city down the road…

Dear International Living Reader,

It’s a fact: Panama City is humid. Humidity oozes up through the cracks in the sidewalks and down from the clouds overhead, wafting in from the Pacific Ocean and out through your pores. When a car or bus roars by it leaves a trail of steamy exhaust in its wake, prompting you to fan your face. If it’s the rainy season, multiply all of this by 10.

The heat and humidity are part of the sultry allure of this exciting, vibrant city, where urban life hurtles forward 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a distinctive Central American vibe. No doubt about it, this is a thrilling metropolis. Still, no matter how much we love the fast-paced big-city feel of it all, sometimes it’s nice to get away.

Fortunately, an easy-to-get-to retreat from the chaotic pace of Panama City life beckons…

To leave the sweltering city behind, drive along the Pan-American Highway, a thoroughfare as efficient as any in the U.S. In an hour and a half you’ll arrive at the impressive Playa Blanca Resort, a sprawling all-inclusive complex rimming tranquil Pacific Coast beaches.

You can count on nice weather, because Playa Blanca is in an area Panamanians call "Arco Seco," or dry arch, so named because it rarely sees rain. (So little rain, in fact, that at one time the U.S. used the area to land planes when storms lurked in the Pacific.)

The grand foyer of the Playa Blanca Hotel is wide open and welcoming. As you check in, the wind wisps against the back of your neck and the ocean gently whispers in your ear, immediately offering the kind of tranquility that city life simply can’t.

Playa Blanca is just what a tropical beach resort should be. Its vast common area includes two large swimming pools (one with a swim-up bar), Jacuzzi, two full bars, discotheque, tennis and volleyball courts, a small stage for concerts and special performances, and a putting green where you can sharpen your golf skills. Not to mention the beautiful beaches and sparkling blue water of the ocean.

You can also rent four-wheelers and wave runners, go sport fishing, or sign up for tours that include parasailing, river rafting, and even a guided tour of the famous Panama Canal.

If, on the other hand, you don’t want to do anything but sleep, you’re in luck. There are 219 luxurious rooms, as well as townhouses and condominiums for rent, each with ample beach space just steps away

To book time at Playa Blanca, visit www.barceloplayablanca.com/info.shtml, or contact us at the International Living Local Office in Panama and we’ll help arrange your stay, tel. +(507)212-0344; e-mail Panama@InternationalLiving.com.

Brandon Clogston
For International Living

Editor’s Note: Brandon Clogston is the Editor of Panama Insider, International Living’s newest resource for the very best retirement and investment opportunities in Panama, our top-choice five years running for the world’s best retirement haven. Sign up now and each month Brandon and IL’s team of experts will act as your eyes, ears, and legs on the ground in Panama, uncovering the very best values and opportunities. We’ll even share with you the names of real estate agents, bankers, attorneys, and other dependable contacts we’ve established here…so the moment you decide to act on these opportunities, you’ll be steered in the right direction. Read on for details.

Important Note: In the interest of full disclosure, we want you to know that International Living receives commissions from real estate sales at Playa Blanca.